Netflix in Talks to Develop Royal Drama About Queen Elizabeth II

May 23, 2014 (7:58 am) GMT

The streaming giant plans to make a new series inspired by Peter Morgan and Stephen Daldry's play 'The Audience' starring Helen Mirren.

Netflix and Sony Pictures Television are in negotiations for a potential new original series "The Crown". The drama will focus on the weekly audiences Queen Elizabeth II has given to prime ministers since her accession in 1952.

The British royal drama is inspired by 2013's play "The Audience" written by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry. Helen Mirren starred as Queen Elizabeth II in the play and the role earned her the Laurence Olivier Award for best actress.

Andy Harries, Robert Fox and Matthew Byam Shaw, who produced "The Audience", will serve as producers for the TV series. The 20-plus-hour series will reportedly be made with a budget of around £100 million or nearly $170 million.

Netflix and Sony Pictures have not commented on the news first reported by The Daily Mail.